George
E. Wood

I would like to find out more about my g-g-grandfather, George E. WOOD, a
merchant who came to CA in 1849 and settled in Chico. He was a business partner
for a while with John BIDWELL before branching out on his own. He was an
enterprising businessman, once listed as the wealthiest man in CA. But he lost
it all and left CA broke in 1869 and lived out his life in Jamestown NY. His
future son-in-law, Frank A. BARTON was also working for BIDWELL in 1860. I am
told they both came by ship. George was in New Orleans before coming to CA.
Frank was a native of MA. My mother tells me he wrote a diary of his voyage, but
his wife used it to repair the holes in their children's shoes!